another time toast By Shamus aka papi sj 1297 The Magna Carta was signed establishing the foundations of English rights 1543 Nicolaus Copernicus developed the heliocentric theory 1600 The Baroque Period began in art, music, and architecture (Bach and Handel were composers) 1605 The novel became a new form of literature (Miguel Cervantes wrote Don Quixote) 1609 Johannes Kepler discovered planetary motion 1609 Galileo used the telescope to support the proof of the heliocentric theory 1612 All weather roads were created to improve year round transport and trade 1641 The English Civil War began between the Roundheads (supporters of Parliament) and the Cavaliers (supporters of the King) 1643 Louis XIV became the king of France 1653 William Harvey showed that the heart acted as a pump to circulate blood throughout the body 1653 Oliver Cromwell began his rule of England as the Lord Protector 1660 Charles I of England was beheaded 1660 The Restoration of Charles II – the monarchy was put back in control in England 1682 The Palace of Versailles was built under the reign of Louis XIV 1682 Peter I became the czar of Russia 1682 The Westernization of Russia was started by Peter the Great 1682 Thomas Hobbes published Leviathan – social contract (people give up rights to a strong ruler who maintains order) 1685 James II became the King of England 1685 The Age of Reason (the Enlightenment) began 1686 Isaac Newton published his law of gravity 1688 William and Mary became the leaders of England (this is referred to as the Glorious Revolution) 1688 John Locke published Two Treatises on Government - it was his theory of “natural rights” (life, liberty, and property) 1689 The English Bill of Rights was passed laying out specific rights on Parliament and putting limits on royal power 1711 Francois-Marie Arouet changed his name to Voltaire and goes on to champion individual freedoms 1712 St. Petersburg became the capital of Russia under Peter the Great 1721 Montesquieu published On the Spirit of Laws – detailing separation of powers in government 1732 The Classical Period began in art, music, and architecture (Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven were composers) 1762 Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote The Social Contract – free individuals create a society and government 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence 1788 The Constitution was ratified on the United States 1789 The American Revolution began which was heavily influenced by the Age of Enlightenment 1789 The Storming of the Bastille was the symbolic start of the French Revolution 1791 The Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments) was added to the Constitution of the United States 1791 The French Revolution began having been influenced by the Enlightenment and the American Revolution 1792 Marie Antoinette was executed at the guillotine 1793 The Reign of Terror marked a period of mass executions during the French Revolution 1793 Louis XVI was executed at the guillotine 1796 Edward Jenner introduced a vaccine to prevent small pox 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in France in a coup d’etat 1816 Eugene Delacroix began the transition of art to the Romantic School
